Thoughts for the Day

Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Have you ever had an annual review at work, that starts with you looking at your own performance and then moves onto a review by your peers, and finally concludes with a meeting with your boss? It can be quite scary, although if handled professionally it can be enlightening and supportive. Places where there is no review can allow bad working practices to continue for many years. I was told some time ago of a Doctor who left her job in a European country because no reviews ever took place. Veteran GP's were allowed to carry out old procedures which modern medical practices would have considered dangerous, and which up-to-date training would have changed.

In our passage from Luke's Gospel today, Jesus speaks of the sin of hypocrisy. He's getting at the Pharisees who say one thing and often do the complete opposite, and of the way this can spread like leaven (eg yeast) infecting a whole society. He is also reminding the disciples and us, that hypocrisy is a major sin, and such sins are always open to God.

As with a good annual review system, God sees our strengths and our weaknesses, and can help us to change. The most important thing is that we start to own up to ourselves about our weaknesses. Perhaps we should include sentences like "And all other sins" or "Enable us to see our sins" in our time of confession.

Heavenly Father,
sometimes it's all too easy to criticise others,
and not see the same faults in us.
Small sins can grow and multiply
affecting us and others.
Help us to be honest with ourselves and with You.
Then help us to ask for Your help
to make changes to our life,
and constantly to review our progress.
Amen.